The Real Madrid squad came together this Tuesday for a dinner aimed at strengthening team spirit for the decisive final stretch of the season, which begins with the UEFA Champions League playoff against Benfica on February 17 and 25. The gathering, which took place without the coaching staff, was hosted by Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé, both partners of the restaurant where the event was held. According to the newspaper Marca, the initiative came from the players and included all 24 athletes in the squad, including injured players Militão, Rodrygo, and Bellingham. Vinícius himself revealed the gathering by sharing a photo of the entire group on his social media, clearly signaling commitment and unity. This dinner comes at a crucial moment of the season for the Merengues. The team is preparing for the decisive tie against Benfica and is in a fierce battle for the La Liga title, having achieved seven consecutive victories. The gathering outside the Valdebebas training center is seen as a show of strength for the upcoming challenges. The chosen venue was '61', a club-restaurant in Madrid that opened in December and has already hosted several Spanish public figures. The 'conjuring dinner' of Real Madrid extended into the early hours, with players leaving in phases, while fans gathered outside asking for autographs. Lunin, Rudiger, Guler, and Mendy were the first to leave the venue shortly after 11:00 PM. They were followed by Valverde and Militão around 11:30 PM, while others, such as Camavinga, Vinícius, and Mbappé, left after 1:00 AM. English players Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold stayed until nearly 2:00 AM. Asencio was the last to leave, around 2:50 AM. The team returns to training this Wednesday at 11:00 AM in Valdebebas.
Dinner Hosted Benfica remains central to this story.
Dinner Hosted Benfica remains central to this story.
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